The Youthful Wanderer eBook

On the Mediterranean
Alexandria
Cairo
Wretchedness of the Poorer Classes
The Return Trip
Conclusion

Subjects treated in a general way are distinguished
by being rendered in italics, in this table of contents.

[Illustration: The Keystone State Normal School.]

Chapter I.

Leaving Home.

While engaged in making the preliminary arrangements
for leaving soon after the “Commencement”
of the Keystone State Normal School (coming off June
24th), information was received that the “Manhattan,”
an old and well-tried steamer of the Guion Line, would
sail from New York for Liverpool on the 22nd of June.
She had been upon the ocean for nine years, and had
acquired the reputation of being “safe but
slow.” As I esteemed life more
precious than time, though either of them once
lost can never be recovered, I soon decided to share
my fate with her—­by her, to be carried
safely to the “farther shore,” or with
her, to seek a watery grave.

The idea of remaining for the Commencement, was at
once abandoned; short visits, abrupt farewells, and
a hasty preparation for the pilgrimage, were my portion
for the few days still left me, and Saturday, the 19th,
was determined upon as the day for leaving home.
It would be evidence of gross ingratitude to forget
the kind wishes, tender good-byes, and many other
marks of attention, on the part of friends and acquaintances,
which characterized the parting hour. Both Literary
Societies had passed resolutions to turn out, and
on the ringing of the bell at 6:30 a.m., all assembled
in the Chapel, and addresses were delivered.

Half an hour later, we left in procession for the
depot, where we arrived in time to exchange our last
tokens of remembrance—­cards, books, bouquets
&c., and shake hands once more.

While the train was moving away, the benedictions
and cheers of a hundred familiar voices rang upon
the air, and waving handkerchiefs caught the echoes
even from the distant cupola of the now fast receding
Normal School buildings. A number of torpedoes
that had been placed under the wheels of the locomotive,
had already apprised us that the train was in motion,
and would soon hurry us out of sight. During
all this excitement of the parting hour, which seemed
to affect some so deeply, I was either looking into
the future, or contemplating the present, rather, from
an active than from a passive standpoint;
and, as a natural consequence, remained quite tranquil
and composed—­my feelings and emotions being
at a lower ebb than they could now be, if the occasion
would repeat itself. The idea of making a tour
through Europe and to the Orient, had been continually
revolving in my mind for many years; and now, that
I saw the prospect open of once realizing the happy
dreams of my childhood, and the schemes of early youth,
I took no time for contemplating the dangers of sea
voyages or any of the other perils of adventure.